For a nation where smallholders produce over 70% of its food supply, farmers and fisherfolk are grappling with a dual crisis: they are the most vulnerable to climate change, and yet they are the least capable of adapting to it.

Manila, Philippines - 10 July 2025 — In a multi-sectoral bid to develop agricultural cooperative-based models for resilient rural livelihoods, HSBC Philippines has provided philanthropic funding to support Philippine smallholder farmers and fisherfolk in adapting to climate climate while scaling sustainable food production. Development sector group Bayan Family of Foundations and Philippine agritech leader Mayani are jointly implementing this move.

For a nation where smallholders produce over 70% of its food supply, farmers and fisherfolk are grappling with a dual crisis: they are the most vulnerable to climate change, and yet they are the least capable of adapting to it. Also, according to the United Nations (UN), the impact of climate hazards disproportionately affects more women smallholders because they make up the majority of the world's poor, are more reliant on natural resources, and have sparse access to agricultural training and credit.

The project stirs the development of clustered smallholder-led cooperatives that embed regenerative agricultural practices, use indigenous knowledge, espouse strong cooperative governance, adopt smallholder-centric digital tools, and embrace market readiness. On-farm infrastructure improvements like smart greenhouses and precision agriculture systems comprise the project's primary capital expenditure to drive long-term impact at scale. It also underpins the creation of a cooperative development manual to ensure replicability.

"We are pleased to partner with Bayan alongside Mayani to provide philanthropic funding for the climate-smart agriculture capacity building. This important partnership will aim to support local farmers and fishermen to adapt climate-resilient practices and strengthen their businesses, while also striving to contribute towards the improvement of food security in the Philippines." said HSBC Philippines President & Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Uppal.

The move aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (No Hunger), 10 (Reduce Inequalities), and 12 (Climate Action), while building investable rural food supply chains. The Philippines, however, is challenged by a $72B finance gap to realize its nationally determined contribution - the nation's climate action plan. Thus, Mayani works with Co-Axis of Temasek Trust to crowd-in further climate co-investments after HSBC's philanthropic capital.

"There are a thousand ways to tackle any systemic issue. History has, however, proven that the power of a community working together towards a common goal can do wonders beyond their expectations. Filipinos equate this with the value of bayanihan. In the taxonomy of organizations, this is best exemplified by the cooperative, which has the upliftment of its members' lives as its primary objective through its entrepreneurial pursuits. If agricultural cooperatives - numbering in thousands in the Philippines - are effectively mobilized to serve as agents of climate adaptation, social, economic, and even environmental benefits could potentially be delivered to its millions of members" said Prof. Carlo S. Sagun, President & CEO of Bayan Family of Foundations.

The development roadmap targets key vulnerable food corridors in Luzon and Visayas this year. In 2026, an expanded focus will include smallholders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - a region in southern Philippines with rich natural ecosystems but has just emerged from a fragile state of peace. The proponents hope that their interventions shape a multi-faceted agricultural imperative touching on food security, peacebuilding, and economic recovery.
"The sheer gravity and frequency of these climate hazards would eventually require their own nomenclature. As they evolve, we see them as known constants in agriculture, and it's high-time we tackle them head on," said Ochie San Juan, Co-Founder & Chief Farmer of Mayani, the Philippines' foremost agritech platform rooting its work in smallholder empowerment by providing them access to markets, inputs, and credit.

HSBC continues its philanthropic thrust to find solutions that can drive impact and support communities in achieving their decarbonization, resilience, and inclusion ambitions. By working with rural agri-smallholders who bear the most loss and damage from climate risks, they envision maximizing the initial funding's reach.